Monday's Greek Recipe- Keftedakia - Greek Meat Balls

 

Greek Meatballs

 

Ingredients

• 500 g minced beef
• 2 onions finely chopped
• some parsley finely chopped
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbs breadcrumbs
• 1 tea spoon cinnamon
• 1 tea spoon cumin
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tea cup frying oil
• salt and pepper
  

Directions

• Heat the frying oil in a large pan.
• When the oil is hot, turn heat down to medium-low.
• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
• Shape the mixture into small meatballs
• Deep fry for about 5-6 minutes
• Serve hot with chips and a greek village salad.

Recipe by: Anastasia Marou

Comments

[Katie White]

Greek meatballs... sounds yummy!!

[Anastasia]

Just delicious and so easy to make.
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[Sophia]

This is my kids' most favourite meal, with chips and ketchup ofcourse! I noticed that you don't use grated potato in the mixture. Do you wrap them in flour before frying them? I'll have to try your recipe and see how it turns out.

[Anastasia]

No, Sophia, I don't wrap them in flour before frying. I think they're just as tasty without the potato. You can also add a tea spooinful of baking powder to make them fluffier.
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[Lakis Ioannou]

An all-time classic. I could eat a dozen for ..starters!!!

[Laura]

Great dish! A perfect idea for what to cook after a long day at work. I'm sure my kids will love your meatballs!

[Christina]

When I was on holiday in Paros a few summers ago, I tasted their delicious keftedakia and got the recipe. In Paros, they use mixed ground meat - pork and beef- which they soak in vinegar and ouzo. Then they add breadcrumbs, grated onions, grated tomatoes, 1 egg, fresh basil and parsley finely cut, dry mint, salt and pepper. When shaping the meatballs they wet their fingers in some ouzo so that the mixture doesn't stick. And they do wrap them in some flour before deep frying.

[Jafar]

In India, meatballs are a favourite dish and a quite spicy one - quite different from yours. We use conola oil, garlic, curry powder, ground chicken instead of beef, 1 egg, leaves and stems from sprigs clianto, low-fat coconut milk,, curry simmer sauce and chicken broth. Once shaped, we broil them on the top oven rack for 5-6 minutes and then we transfer in a saucepan and cook gently with coconut milk and curry simmer sauce. A great spicy Indian main course.

[Alexia M]

Ohh these greek meatballs of yours! That was one of the first dishes I tasted of your delecious cuisine! Your meatballs look so yummy!!!!! I bet they taste much better than the ones I had in a restaurant. Would love to try the recipe if I ever make time to cook.

[Lisa A]

Our meatballs in Italy are like the greek but have some different. For example: we use ground beef like you and breadcrumbs, parsley and garlic but also oregano, and grated parmesan cheese. We roll them like small balls but not fry them. We put them in tomato sauce and simmer for about 2 hours and then serve with spaghetti. Delizioso!

[Anastasia]

Indeed, Lisa, this sounds delicious! Can you use torteLlini or fetuccini instead of spaghetti?
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[Anastasia]

Would love to have that recipe, Christina.
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[Anastasia]

I hope they will love them. In Cyprus it's a very popular dish for both children and adults.
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[Anastasia]

Unlike me, my husband loves curry and spicy foods. I'd appreciate if you could email me the recipe. Thanks for sharing your own Indian meatballs.
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[Haruko N]

In Japan, meatballs are cooked in sweet soy sauce and are called niku dango no amakara-ni. We serve them as appetizers or as a side dish and they are very simple to make. Here's the recipe:
For meatballs

8 ounces ground pork
2 ounces lettuce, finely chopped
3 ounces carrots, finely grated
1 tablespoon sake
1 pinch salt
1/2 beaten egg
1 tablespoon cornflour
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

For the sauce

4 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon sake
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornflour

Directions:

1. Mix together all the ingredients for the meatballs in a bowl. Knead the mixture until the ingredients are well combined. The beaten egg should give a stickiness to the rest of the mixture, holding it together.

2. Take a small amount of the mixture -slightly less than a tablespoon) in your hand and mould it into a ball. Continue until the meatball mixture is used up.

3. Fill a pan about one-third full of cooking oil. Heat oil to 350ºF and deep fry the meatballs until brown, about 5 minute (Turn meatballs halfway to ensure they are browned evenly.).

4. Remove meatballs to plate lined with absorbent paper, to drain off excess oil.

5. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a pan. Mix them together over a low heat, stirring until the sauce has thickened.

6. Add the meatballs to the pan and roll them around in the pan until they are all covered with the sauce.

7. Pour the meatballs with sauce onto a serving plate and serve!

[Lisa A]

Yes of corse, Anastasia. You can serve the italian meatballs with any pasta you like.

[Christina]

Sure! Here it is:
Ingredients
800 gr ground beef or half pork half beef
3 slices toast bread soaked in milk and drained
2 onions, grated
1 big tomato, grated
2 tablespoons wine vinegar
3 tablespoons ouzo
1 egg
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon basil, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
salt and pepper
2 cups olive oil and some flour for frying

1. In a bowl, place the ground meat and pour over it the vinegar and the ouzo. This makes the meatballs more fluffy.
2. Make a small pot-hole in the middle and combine all other ingredients to make a fluffy mixture.
3. Cover the mixture and place it in the fridge for about an hour.
4. Dip your fingers in some ouzo and shape into big meatballs - the size of a golf ball - then flatten them by pressing gently.
5. Heat the olive oil, then in low heat fry them for about 3 min or till golden brown.
6. Remove from heat and place them on kitchen paper so that the extra oil is absorbed.
7. Serve with french fries and a big Greek village salad. You can also serve on top of rice.

[Jeff]

Can't wait to make my American BBQ meatballs on July 4. The following ingredients serve 30.

4 beaten eggs

12 cup vodka

12 cup water

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

2 tbsps onion flakes (dried minced)

1 tsp garlic powder (taste)

12 tsp salt (taste)

12 tsp black pepper (ground, taste)

3 lbs ground beef

2 lbs ground turkey

15 ozs bread crumbs (italian seasoned)

56 ozs crushed tomatoes

[Anastasia]

Thanks a million, Christina.Next time I make meatballs, I'll definitely try your recipe.

[Anastasia]

You should give it a try. It's simple, fast and easy. In Cyprus, most people use grated potatoes in the mixture and that's what I don't like. So, I tried to experiment and create my very own Greek meatballs.

[Anastasia]

Grazie Lisa. I'll combine them with talliatelle which is my favourite pasta.

[Anastasia]

Thank you so much for the recipe, Haruko. As you know, I love the Japanese cuisine - sushi, maki and sushimi in particular. I honestly did not know you have meatballs as well. I once tried sake but it's a bit too strong for me. But I guess it gives the sauce a very special japanese flavour. Is mirin a kind of wine?

[Anastasia]

Ah right! 12 cup vodka is ok for 30 people, I guess. And I do like the combination of minced beef and turkey. I'm sure your July 4 BBQ party will rock! Good luck with the cooking!!!

[Anastasia]

I'll send you some of my special Greek meatballs next time, now that I know how much you love them!

[Laura]

Anastasia, I've just tried your recipe for tonight's dinner. It's turned out great and the kids loved your meatballs so much that they've even learned the greek name - keftedakia.

[Haruko N]

Yes, Anastasia, mirin is a kind of wine which is used as an essential essential condiment in Japanese cuisine It is a kind of rice wine similar to sake, but with a lower alcohol content. There are three general types. The first is hon mirin which contains alcohol. The second is shio mirin, which contains alcohol as well as salt. The third is shin mirin or mirin-fu chomiryo which contains less alcohol yet retains the same flavour.

Mirin is used to add a bright touch to grilled (broiled) fish or to erase the fishy smell. A small amount is often used instead of sugar and soy sauce. It should not be used in excess however, as its flavour is quite strong. It is sometimes used as a sushi accompaniment. Mirin is also used in teriyaki sauce.

[Jafar]

The koftas as we call meatballs in India can be made with beef, lamb or chicken. It makes a great meal when served with jeera rice and kachumbar salad.
Ingredients:
1 kg beef mince
5 onions chopped very fine
2 tbsps garlic paste
1 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsps garam masala (for the Koftas)
3 tbsps tomato ketchup
1/2 cup coriander leaves chopped fine
Salt to taste
3 tbsps vegetable/canola/sunflower cooking oil
1 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsps garlic paste
2 tsps coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala (for the gravy)
4 large tomatoes cubed
Preparation:
Put the minced beef, 2 of the chopped onions, 2 tbsps garlic paste, 1 tbsp ginger paste, 2 tbsps garam masala, tomato ketchup and coriander leaves in a large bowl and mix well.
Form the mixture into equal sized balls and keep on a plate.
Heat the oil in a pan and add the remaining onions. Fry till they are light brown then add the ginger and garlic pastes. Fry for a minute.
Add all the powdered spices - coriander, cumin, red chilli powder, 1 tsp garam masala, turmeric - and fry for 2-3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and mix well. Fry the masala till the oil begins to separate from it.
Add 2 cups of warm water to the masala and season with salt to taste. Gently add the meatballs now. Do not stir for at least the next 5 minutes.
Stir gently so as not to break the meatballs.
Cook uncovered till the meatballs are done. The gravy can be as thick as you like so add or dry up the water as required.
Serve with Jeera Rice and Kachumbar salad.

Since your husband likes spicy foods, I am sure he will love our koftas.

[Anastasia]

Thanks a million, Jafar. I know Alkis will love your koftas!!
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[Jeff]

My American meatballs were the highlight of my backyard July 4 cookout! BUT, next July 4, I'll give your Greek meatballs a try!!!

[Anastasia]

Jeff, I'm glad your July 4 BBQ was great, I'm sure you'll love my Greek meatballs next July 4!